Leaked email shows NFL plan to find new Louis Rees-Zammit as England star approached

The NFL has hatched a plan to find more top rugby players to follow in the footsteps of Louis Rees-Zammit, with a number of stars from the United Rugby Championshop and Gallagher Premiership reportedly under consideration.

Former Wales wing Rees-Zammit sent shockwaves through the rugby world in January after announcing he was quitting the sport to pursue his dream of playing American football. After progressing through the NFL's International Player Pathway (IPP) programme, he signed with Super Bowl champions Kansas City Chiefs before being released and joining the Jacksonville Jaguars.

While he is still on the Jaguars' practice squad, the 23-year-old has been tipped to one day make it on to the active roster, and has shown that the transition from rugby to American football is possible. Now, the Telegraph report that the NFL are looking to find more rugby talent to join next year's IPP programme, with several players actively reaching out themselves.

READ MORE:Welsh rugby stalwart leaves club after almost two decades to take up role with Irish giants

READ MORE:'It really is going off here!' Huge brawl 'blows up' at international rugby match

WIN Wales autumn internationals tickets: Just fill in the form here and you'll be entered in the draw for free Wales v Fiji tickets

The publication reports that it has seen a leaked email sent out by the NFL to representatives of rugby players and athletes in other sports, inviting them to nominate any potential candidates to join the IPP programme.

The league has set out specific criteria that interested athletes should meet, namely that they are, like Rees-Zammit, aged between 20 and 24 and possess "outlier size (6ft 3in+), athleticism or kicking ability). The email also adds that players' "current contractual obligations" can be discussed to help facilitate a move on to the programme.

The Telegraph also reports that England star Joe Cokanasiga was previously approached to join the IPP, with the Bath wing visiting the NFL's offices in London to discuss a potential move. While salary factors meant he ultimately chose to stay in rugby, the 26-year-old - who stands at 6ft 4in and weighs 17-and-a-half stone - has the size and speed the NFL is looking for.

It has also been reported that a number of South African players currently competing in the URC have put themselves forwards as potential IPP candidates, as well as some in the Gallagher Premiership and a member of the France sevens team. Australia international Jordan Petaia is also expected to be selected for next year's programme in January.

Successful candidates will be looking to not only follow in the footsteps of Rees-Zammit, but also those of former rugby league player Jordan Mailata. The 6ft 8in star formerly played for South Sydney Rabbitohs U20s before joining the IPP in 2018 and is now left tackle for the Philadelphia Eagles, with career earnings of around £43 million.

“When we talk to coaches and general managers they suggest there are not many Mailata’s out there, but physically there are. Quite a few of them," said Mark Dulgerian, the lead scout for the IPP. "It is just the age, landing with the right team like Jordan did, a team which is willing to develop them. All the stars aligned for him.

“Unfortunately, there are some guys who did come to us who are a little bit older and well-known in the rugby world, but that is just not what NFL teams are looking for. They have accomplished a lot in rugby and maybe just want to try out football as their last hurrah in their athletic career, but the bottom line is we’re not in this to showcase a guy for marketing. We are looking for guys who are going to play and who we can develop.”

On Rees-Zammit, Dulgerian added: "For a while in the off-season Louis was catching passes from Patrick Mahomes and training alongside Travis Kelce. [Practice squad players] are in the same practices, same meetings, they are part of the team but just not activated on game day.

"It is a fantastic learning experience. They are in the same rooms as the starters, the Pro Bowlers, the Super Bowl winners. It’s an invaluable learning opportunity.

“With rugby, people assume it’s a direct correlation and transfer of skills, and it’s really not. They can jump right in and do some of the things that we ask, but there is quite a bit of difference with the type of movements," he continued.

"The thing you cannot teach with crossover athletes is the level of physicality they’re accustomed to and that they like. If we look at premium basketball players or Olympians, they might not be used to that kind of physicality. That’s an advantage rugby players have.

"There is still a lot of playing lower to the ground, more bend, quite a difference. But that uncoachable desire for physicality, you can check that box right away.”